Travelling sprinkler



March 1969 H0 CHOW 3,430,859

TRAVELLING SPRINKLER Filed Feb. 17, 1957 Sheet of 4 ATTORNEY March 4, 1969 H0 CHOW TRAVELLING SPRINKLER Sheet Filed Feb. 17, 1967 INVENTOR H0 (f/0W ATTORNEY March 4, 1969 H0 CHOW TRAVELLING SPRINKLER A. R Y

a m M NO R 3 w o m 9m m YW arch 1969 H0 CHOW 3,430,859

' TRAVELLING SPRINKLER Filed Feb. 17, 1967 Sheet 4 of 4 INVENTOR H0 CHOW- Y a ,k v d nit/MW ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A travelling fluid sprinkler of the type in which a wheeled carriage is propelled along the ground tracked by a laid out extension of a hose, propulsion being effected by the winding up of the hose on a reel which is mounted on the carriage, the reel being rotated by the jet reaction operation of a sprinkler mounted on the carriage and in fluid communication with the hose. The

sprinkler is characterized by a number of features which result in the production of a compact, readily assemblable and simplified structure design.

This invention relates to a type of travelling fluid sprinkler adapted to wind a hose supply line upon itself and to traverse a path determined by the hose, an extension of the supply line as it is laid out over the ground.

In travelling fluid sprinklers of this type a wheeled carriage is provided with a hose reel rotatably mounted thereon, about which a hose supply line is adapted to be wound and with a fixedly mounted jet reaction sprinkler, the hose supply line being communicatively connected to the jet sprinkler. The jet sprinkler, which is the sole motor (water motor) for the apparatus, isgeared to rotatively drive the hose reel, the driving gear being arranged so as to wind the hose on the reel. The carriage is provided with a guide wheel which is adapted to be tracked by an extended part of the hose laid out in a desired patterned path on the ground. Operation of the motor sprinkler by water fed to the hose and flowing to and through the sprinkler rotates the hose reel, and the resulting winding of the hose on the reel causes the carriage and its mounted parts to be propelled along and to travel the path determined by the laid out extended part of the hose. In apparatus of this type, means is also provided to disconnect the driving gear so as to permit stationary sprinkling as Well as unreeling of the hose. Such a travelling sprinkler is disclosed in the patent to Rinkewich 3,126,156, patented Mar. 24, 1964.

The travelling sprinkler of the present invention is a fluid sprinkler of this type characterized by the following structural and functional features:

(1) The parts or units of the sprinkler are structured for an improved system of assembly, and one to enable ready accessibility by the user for cleaning as well as for possible replacement of the operative mechanism;

(2) The operative mechanism including the sprinkler itself defining the water motor and the motor transmission gearing system connecting thereto is built as a selfcontained assembly to enable the ready detachability thereof for cleansing and replacement; and

(3) These and other features of the sprinkler add up to the production of a compacted (overall size) and simplified (with a reduction of the number of parts) mechanical design of the sprinkler.

This travelling sprinkler is further characterized by (a) the provision of a carriage and a mounting of the parts thereon to facilitate the winding of the hose on the reel and the placing of the guide or tracking wheel on the hose for travelling; (b) a simplified water connection from the hose coupling on the reel to the line of fluid 3,430,859 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 "ice communication to the sprinkler, and (c) a specially designed seal assembly for achieving minimum friction and least wear.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the travelling sprinkler above referred to as defined in the appended claims and as described in the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the travelling sprinkler of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the detailed parts of the travelling sprinkler;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the self-contained assembly of the sprinkler system operative parts;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the travelling sprinkler shown on an enlarged scalewith parts shown in cross-section and with some of the parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 3 with the side cover removed; and

FIG. 5 is a view of parts shown in FIG. 4 taken in cross-section in the broken line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and having reference first to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 thereof, the travelling fluid sprinkler of the invention comprises a wheeled carriage C mounting a rotatable hose reel R, about which a hose supply line H is adapted to be wound and also fixedly mounting a jet reaction sprinkler S, the hose line being communicatively connected to the jet sprinkler in a manner to be set forth hereinafter.

The jet sprinkler S which is the sole motor (water motor) of the apparatus is geared to rotatably drive the hose reel by a gearing system generally designated as G arranged so as to wind the hose on the reel. The carriage C is provided with a frontally mounted guide wheel g which is adapted to be tracked by an extended part h of the hose H laid out in a desired patterned path on the ground. Rotation of the jet motor sprinkler S by water fed to the hose h (H) and flowing to and through the sprinkler S operates the gearing G, thereby rotating the hose reel R, and the resulting winding of the hose H on the reel causes the carriage and its mounted parts to be pulled and thereby propelled along the ground by rotation of supporting wheels w (only one of which is shown in the drawings) and to travel the path determined by the laid-out extended part 11 of the hose.

The hose reel R comprising a drum or cylindrical part 16 on which the hose is adapted to be wound and two spaced side plates 12 and 14 joined to the drum or cylinder 10 in the manner indicated at 16, is provided with a hose conduit 13 terminating at its outer end in a hose receiving coupling 20. The hose reel R is also provided at its left side (as viewed in FIG. 3) with a driven gear 22 fixed to the side plate 12 and secured thereto by any suitable means as those indicated at 24. The hose reel R (and its described associated parts) is rotatably mounted on a tubular element 26 fixed to parts on said carriage C by the means hereinafter set forth. The conduit 18 is in fluid communication with the tubular shaft 26 by means of the intercommunicating openings or ducts 28 thereof. Operation of the driven gear 22 effects the rotation of the reel R resulting in the winding of the hose H on the reel, this resulting in the propulsion of the travelling sprinkler in the manner described.

The sprinkler system S comprises a self-contained assembly best shown in assembled condition in FIG. 2A of the drawings, the same including opposed closelyspaced secured-together plates 30 and 32, a jet reaction sprinkler defining a water motor 34 rotatably mounted by and between said plates 30 and 32, and a motor transmission gear system generally designated as 36 also mounted by and between said plates geared to and conmeeting a worm gear 38 on said rotatable sprinkler 34 with the driven gear 22 of the reel R. The said jet sprinkler 34, the body of which is tubular, connects in fluid communication with the hose reel conduit 18 via the tube 26 (see FIG. 3).

The self-contained sprinkler system assembly S is shown in detail in assembled condition in FIGS. 2A and 3 to and in a disassembled exploded view in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The jet sprinkler part 34 of the assembly, rotatable by the jet reaction of the duplex spray arms projecting upwardly therefrom, is mounted in the assembly S in the mounting rings 42 and 44 which integral with the plate 30. The part 34 is supported in the top ring 42 by a split bearing 43 and in the bottom ring 44 by an O-ring bearing 45, the latter providing a static water seal for the jet sprinkler. The tubular sprinkler part 34 is attached by the press-fitted barbs 46 to a thimble 48. The duplex spray arms 40 are removably attached to the tubular part 34 of the sprinkler by means of their coacting threaded ends 52 (see particularly FIGS. 2A, 3 and 4). Thereby the duplex spray arms 40 may be readily detached aided by knurled piece from the tubular body of the sprinkler for cleansing and replacement of these parts.

The motor transmission gear system 36 of the assembly S comprises intermeshing reduction gear sets consisting of an upper gear set 54 meshing with the worm gear 38, a lower gear set 56 meshing with the driven gear 22 and an intermediate gear set 58. These gear sets are mounted on studs integral with the opposed plates 30 and 32; and each of said studs comprises a pair of mating stud parts, one of each stud pair being integral with one of the opposed plates and the other of each stud pair being integral with the other of the stud plates. Thus the upper gear set 54 is rotatably mounted on a pair of mating (interfitting) stud parts 60, 62; the lower gear set 56 is rotatably mounted on a pair of mating stud parts 64, 66 and supported in the shoulder bearing and the intermediate gear set 58 is rotatably (and slidably) mounted on a pair of mating stud parts 68, 70, the stud parts 60, 64 and 68 being integral with the plate 30 and the stud parts 62, 66 and 70 being integral with the plate 32. The plates 30 and 32 also include integral mating studs receiving screws for securing said plates together; these comprise the mating pairs of studs 72, 74, 76 and 78 receiving the securing screws 80, 82, 84 and 86.

By means of this recited construction, the parts of the transmission gear system including their mountings are reduced in number, the assembly of these parts is simplified, and a very compact and sturdy construction is obtained.

These results from this combination of the rotatable motor sprinkler 34 and the transmission gear system 36 a self-contained sprinkler assembly structured for an improved system of manufacturing assembly and one to enable ready accessibility by the user to the operating mechanism of the apparatus for cleansing and for parts replacement.

The intermediate gear set 58 of the transmission gear system is slidable on the studs 68 and 70 for the purpose of effecting connection and disconnection of the gearing system G to and from the lower gear set 56; the gear set 58 is thus slidably movable from its full line position shown in FIG. 5 to a dotted line position indicated in FIG. 5, and in the former position it is disconnected from the gear set 56 so as to permit stationary sprinkling as well as unreeling of the hose, and when moved to the latter (dotted line) position, the gearing system is operative for rotating the hose reel and effecting the propulsion of the traveling sprinkler. For slidably moving the gear set 58 there is provided a switch lever 88 pivoted at 90, one arm 92 of which engages a groove 94 in the gear set 58 and another arm 96 of which defines an operating handle for moving the lever, the said handle extending through an orifice 98 in the plate 30; the lever is biased, to be held in its operative positions by means of a spring 100. Manifestly upon an upward movement imparted to the handle 96, the switch lever 88 will be operated to move the gear set 58 into meshing engagement with the gear set 56. The gear set 54 is formed as two separate gears, see particularly FIG. 5, the smaller gear 54, interfitted by a serrated face clutch with the larger gear 54 being slidable on the stud 62 biased by a spring 54 these parts defining a safety device to prevent gear breakage when the mechanism is prevented from moving forward due to an obstruction.

The carriage C is specially designed to permit facilitating the winding of the hose on the reel R and the placing of the guide wheel g on the extension hose It for travelling and also to effectively mount the travelling sprinkler apparatus. To these ends the frame 1 of the carriage C is made to comprise a one-piece structure U-shaped in formation as clearly depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the frame being open at its rear end. The guide wheel g is mounted on the front rung of the frame 1 and separated rear Wheels w (only one of which is shown in the drawings) are mounted on the two rear ends 102 and 104 of the frame f. A transverse connection between the two wheels is thereby eliminated, this facilitating the winding of the hose on the reel and the placing of the guide wheel on the hose for travelling. At the same time the frame 1 is so attached to the supported parts of the apparatus as to mutually rigidify the frame and stabilize the attachment to the frame of the supported parts of the apparatus. This latter is accomplished by attaching the two branches 106 and 108 of the frame 1 in the following manner: the frame branch 106 is secured to and between the plates 30 and 32 and the frame branch 108 is secured between two brackets 110 and 112 fixed in turn to the fixed tube 26 in a manner to be described hereinafter. More specifically the frame branch 106 is attached to and between the plates 30 and 32 by means of the spaced screws 114 and 116 anchored to studs 118 and 120 respectively, integral with the plates 32 and received respectively by the openings 122 and 124 in the frame branch 106; the frame branch 108 is in turn attached to and between the brackets 110 and 112 by means of the spaced screws 126 and 128 anchored to parts 130 and 132 respectively, integral with the bracket 110 and received respectively by the openings 134 and 136 in the frame branch 108 (see particularly FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings), The brackets 110 and 112 are additionally secured to each other by means of the screw 138.

The end plates 30 and 32 on one side of the apparatus and the brackets 110 and 112 on the other side of the apparatus are in turn fixedly attached to the reel supporting tube 26 and this is accomplished with the dual purpose in view of fixedly mounting these parts and sealing against water leakage. Accordingly on the left side of the apparatus the end 26' of the tube 26 is secured between parts of the end plates 30 and 32 by means of an O-ring 140 lodged in suitable recesses in the tube end and the end plates as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings and on the right side of the apparatus the end 26 of the tube 26 is secured between parts of the end brackets 110 and 112 by means of an O-ring 142 formed in the adjacent faces in this tube end and in the end brackets also as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The bracket 110 is in turn fitted into a part of the conduit 18, as will now be separately described.

The conduit 18 is also of special construction designed to produce a simplified water connection from the hose coupling 20 to the line of fluid connection to the sprinkler and to also aid in effecting a good water seal between the parts. Accordingly the hose coupling 18 is made to comprise a tubular T structure best shown in FIG. 3 having a radially arranged part 144 and an integral transversely arranged part 146, the latter mounted on an intermediate portion 26 of the tube 26 and over the inner end of the bracket 110, O-rings 148 and 150 being employed between these parts for effecting a water seal.

The opposite sides of the sprinkler apparatus are suitably supplied with cover enclosures. For this purpose the jet sprinkler side of the apparatus is provided with a cover plate 152 enclosing the self-contained assembly S, this cover plate being made removably attachable to the outside plate by means of a centrally arranged screw 154. This cover plate is suitably formed with an orifice 156 for exposure of the switch handle 96. The other side of the apparatus is provided with a cover plate 158 enclosing the brackets 110' and 112, this cover plate being made removably attachable to the outside bracket 112 by means of a centrally arranged screw 160 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The structure and operation of the travelling sprinkler of the present invention will, it is believed, be fully apparent and understandable from the above detailed description thereof. It is also believed that the structural and functional advantages both in the manufacture and assembling of the parts of the sprinkler apparatus and in its operative use by the consumer will also be apparent from the above detailed analysis thereof. It will be further clear that changes may be made in various parts of the construction and in their assembly without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A travelling sprinkler comprising a wheeled groundsupporting carriage, a sprinkler system fixedly supported on said carriage at one side thereof, a hose reel including a hose conduit rotatively mounted on said carriage, a driven gear fixed to said hose reel, characterized by said sprinkler system comprising a self-contained assembly including (a) opposed closely spaced secured-together plates, (b) a jet reaction sprinkler defining a water motor rotatably mounted by and between said plates, (c) motor transmission gears also mounted by and between said plates and connecting said rotatable sprinkler with said driven gear, (d) means connecting said sprinkler and said hose reel conduit in fluid communication, and (e) means for mounting said self-contained sprinkler system assembly as a unit detachably on said carriage.

2. The travelling sprinkler of claim 1, in which the transmission gears comprise a plurality of intermeshing reduction gears rotatable on studs integral with said opposed plates.

3. The travelling sprinkler of claim 2, in which said studs comprise mating pairs of stud parts, one of the stud pairs being integral with one of the opposed plates, and the other of the stud pairs being integral with the other of said opposed plates.

4. The travelling sprinkler of claim 2, in which said plates also include integral mating studs receiving screws for securing said plates together.

5. The travelling sprinkler of claim 1, in which the transmission gears comprise two terminal gears rotatable on two end studs on said plates and a third, intermediate, gear rotatable and slidable on an intermediate stud on said plates, combined with means mounted on said selfcontained assembly for slidably moving said intermediate gear to effect its conneclion to and disconnection from one of said end gears.

6. The travelling sprinkler of claim 1, in which the carriage comprises a generally U-shaped one-piece frame open at its rear end, a guide wheel mounted on the front of said frame and separated rear wheels mounted on the two rear ends of said frame.

7. For a travelling sprinkler having a wheeled groundsupporting carriage, a hose reel including a hose conduit rotatively mounted on said carriage and a driven gear fixed to said hose reel, a sprinkler system comprising a self-contained assembly including (a) opposed closely-spaced secured-together plates, (b) a jet reaction sprinkler defining a water motor rotatably mounted by and between said plates, (0) motor transmission gears also mounted by and between said plates and connecting said rotatable sprinkler with said driven gear, (d) means for connecting said sprinkler system and said hose conduit in fluid communication, and (e) means for detachably mounting said self-contained sprinkler system assembly as a unit on said carriage.

8. The sprinkler system of claim 7, in which the transmission gears comprise a plurality of intermeshing reduction gears rotatable on studs integral with said opposed plates.

9. The sprinkler system of claim 8, in which the transmission gears comprise two terminal gears rotatable on two end studs on said plates and a third, intermediate, gear rotatable and slidable on an intermediate stud on said plates, combined with means mounted on said selfcontained assembly for slidably moving said intermediate gear to effect its connection to and disconnection from one of said end gears.

10. The sprinkler system of claim 8, in which said studs comprise mating pairs of stud parts, one of the stud pairs being integral with one of the opposed plates, and the other of the stud pairs being integral with the other of said opposed plates.

11. The sprinkler system of claim 8, in which said plates also include integral mating studs receiving screws for securing said plates together.

12. The sprinkler system of claim 7, in which the means detachably mounting said self-contained assembly as a unit on said carriage, includes means for detachably mounting the assembly at said hose conduit and on a part of said carriage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. HOWARD NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

